symantec

Symantec Message Labs has uncovered some interesting information in light of a new research project. Apparently, Linux computers are sending a disproportionate amount of spam in comparison to other operating systems. The news comes as a surprise, ... since Linux retains only a small market share. The research project consisted of Symantec taking a "snapshot" of spam rates from November 2009 through March 2010. This is done through a method called "passive fingerprinting" which involves analyzing the network traffic of a remote host, in turn revealing the operating system of that host. Linux's ... (view more)

Security company Symantec recently compiled a list naming the 50 most dangerous cities in the United States for cyber crime. Some of the top entries are big surprises. The rankings are based on those cities Symantec determined were most susceptible ... to a cyber attack, and factor in the number of high-risk activities and crimes committed in a particular state and city. The study wasn't all just about where cyber attacks take place, however. The study also also investigated other factors -- for example, if a city has a high use of public wireless Internet or network access (WiFi), hosts many ... (view more)

Simply saying that rogue antivirus software is becoming more sophisticated is one thing, but a new fake antivirus program called "Live PC Care" has made one necessary change to dupe innocent users: offering live technical support for bogus software. ... According to Symantec researchers, once users have installed the program, they are met with a screen that informs them of numerous computer infections, several kinds of malware, and the like. This tactic of duping users is nothing new; what is new, however, is the fact that the free trial version of Live PC Care comes with a large yellow "online ... (view more)

Security firm Symantec estimates that 93% of computer users who wind up with ' scareware ' on their machines have intentionally downloaded it. Symantec also believes some people distributing the scareware could be earning more than a million dollars ... each year. Scareware involves giving Internet surfers bogus scans of their machines, often triggered by pop-up messages on Internet sites falsely claiming the user's PC is infected. The user is then encouraged to buy a fake antivirus / security program to remove it, though usually this program will be of little use. Symantec says it has found more ... (view more)

The frightening Conficker worm is just getting bigger and meaner all the time. W32.Downadup.C, a third variant of the Conficker/Downadup worm , is reportedly being pushed out to systems that are already infected. Analysis of the third variant of the ... worm by Symantec is still in the early stages, but their initial research found a couple of new attributes -- one of which includes targeting antivirus software and security tools with the intention of disabling them. (Source: symantec.com ) New Variant Protects itself from AntiVirus Software The Conficker/Downadup authors moved from a 250-a-day ... (view more)

Money makes the world go 'round. That's hardly surprising to anyone, although for a long time it seemed Internet hackers were more interested in simple, wanton destruction than the almighty dollar. According to security guru Symantec, that's all ... changed. At one time, many viruses were created just to cause trouble. These were largely referred to as "nuisance" attacks, not much different than "teepeeing" mean old Mr. Anderson's house down the street. It seems that web hackers have discovered being loud and destructive doesn't exactly pay well, and have instead turned to more subtle ... (view more)

We hope you're not too shocked by this one: someone recently referred to Microsoft as a 'monopoly'. Got back on your feet? Good. Because, jokes aside, respected security firm Symantec Corp. is lashing out at big 'ol Microsoft for its pricing of ... Windows Live OneCare, the Redmond-based company's first foray into the preventative software market. In terms outlined by the media, Symantec Chairman and CEO John Thompson called Microsoft's low-ball pricing "monopolistic." In exact terms, Thompson was quoted to have said, "I don't want to say it was monopolistic, but it looked that way to some of us ... (view more)

If you have Windows XP, 2000, Server 2003, 95, 98, or NT, beware! Symantec has identified a new Trojan Horse aimed at snatching credit card details. Once the Trojan has made its way onto your system (via an infected email, for example), The ... Windows-reactivation Trojan, known as "Trojan.Kardphisher," appears as a message from Microsoft with the headline "Microsoft Piracy Control." It tells the user that their current copy of Windows has been activated by another user and must be reactivated before it can be used again. It gives the user two options: reactivate Windows over the Internet ... (view more)

For those millions upon millions of web users who depend on Yahoo's email service, a recent rumor of hacker penetration into the database was very frightening. If you haven't heard, a Symantec report recently alleged that the "Feebs" worm had made ... its way throughout Yahoo's web mail. That rumor has finally been debunked, leaving many Yahoo users breathing a sigh of relief. Symantec is a major Internet/tech security company that regularly flags the latest threats to Internet programs. They've most famously been behind warnings to consumers on web browser loopholes, reporting Trojans, phishing ... (view more)

Both McAfee and Symantec have recently countered claims that Microsoft has provided security firms with enough information to get their products working its upcoming operating system, Windows Vista. McAfee's Worldwide Corporate Communications Vice ... President Siobhan MacDermott released a statement explaining that the information is inadequate. MacDermott says that although McAfee has received a document that contained the SDK (Software Development Kit) for Windows Security Centre, requests for both clarifications and meetings have been ignored. "To date, we have not had any cooperation from MS ... (view more)